Moses Thompson and Mary Irvin
Husband Moses Thompson 1 2 3
Born: 25 Mar 1810 - Centre Co, PA 2 3 Christened: Died: 19 Jun 1891 2 4 Buried:
Father: Gen. John Thompson (1783-1832) 3 5 6 Mother: Mary Elizabeth McFarlane (1783-1822) 5 6 7
Marriage: 4 Jan 1838 2
Wife Mary Irvin 1 3
AKA: Mary Irwin 2 Born: Christened: Died: 22 Aug 1890 4 Buried:
Father: John Irvin (1764-1843) 8 9 10 Mother: Ann(e) Watson (1781-1855) 1 9 10
Children
1 F Sarah Irvin Thompson 11
Born: 4 Jul 1839 - Centre Co, PA 12 Christened: Died: 20 Feb 1887 12 Buried:Spouse: Dr. Theodore S. Christ (1830- ) 13 Marr: 6 Dec 1871 12
2 F Elizabeth McFarlane Thompson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: John Hamilton ( - ) 4
3 M John Irvin Thompson 14
Born: 11 Oct 1843 - Centre Furnace, near Bellefonte, Centre Co, PA 14 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth M. Boal (1846- ) 3 15 Marr: 12 Oct 1870 3
4 M William Thompson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Anna Elliott ( - ) 4
5 M James Irvin Thompson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Jeanie Shaw ( - ) 4
6 F Annie Thompson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
7 U [Infant] Thompson 4
Born: Christened: Died: in infancy Buried:
8 U [Infant] Thompson 4
Born: Christened: Died: in infancy Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Moses Thompson
Young as he was at the time, yet he remembered the excitement caused by the soldiers of the War of 1812, the troops passing his father's house in going to or returning from Erie by way of Bellefonte. His mother, a devout woman, instructed him in the faith of her forefathers until her death, which occurred in the spring of 1822, when he was twelve years old. The educational advantages offered by the subscription schools of that time and locality were meager, as the funds available were not sufficient to secure competent teachers, and men who had failed in every other line of work, or who through age or ill health were fit for nothing else, were usually employed, and Mr. Thompson fared no better than other farmers' sons. At the age of nineteen or twenty he assumed the responsibility of the farm, thus relieving his father from care, and one of his first acts was to banish liquor from the place, notwithstanding the fact that it was universally used, especially in harvest time. After his father's death, in 1832, the care of the family devolved upon him, and this heavy burden on him while yet a youth so aged him that he was at that time considered by all his acquaintances as an "old man." He managed the farm with economy, energy and industry, until 1839, when he left it to his brothers.
He married and for a year they lived at the old homestead, but on April 1, 1839, they moved to a farm which he had purchased a short time before. It lay near Oak Hall factory, and was later owned by the heirs of Dr. E. W. Hale. During this three-year residence and ownership, he made many improvements, and his industry and economy were rewarded by a profit of $500 per year. On April 1, 1842, he removed to Centre Furnace, having purchased from Gen. James Irvin, his brother-in-law, a sixth interest in Centre Furnace and Milesburg Iron Works. In 1848, in company with his brother, William Thompson, he purchased of William Irvin a sixth interest in the same works, but, later, Moses Thompson bought his brother's interest, thus becoming owner of one-third of both properties. In August, 1864, he bought one-half of Gen. Irvin's interest, the other half having been taken by Dr. J. M. McCoy and James H. Linn. On September 23, 1865, he sold his half interest in the Milesburg Iron Works to Messrs. McCoy and Linn, and bought their interest in Centre Furnace, becoming the sole owner. His real-estate transactions were a source of profit, and at his death he was the largest land owner of Centre County, one of his estates comprising 6,000 acres in one tract.
Many enterprises felt the influence of his energetic support. He, with his partners, Gen. James Irvin and Hon. Andrew Gregg, subscribed a large part of the stock of the Bald Eagle Valley canal. He also contributed liberally to the building of the Bald Eagle Valley railroad, and gave more than any one else of money, time and oversight to the construction of the Boalsburg and Bellefonte turnpike and the Agricultural College and Junction turnpike. He was one of the largest (if not the largest) contributors in the county to the Lewisburg, Centre & Spruce Creek railroad, and assisted greatly in establishing upon an efficient basis the Pennsylvania State College, of which he was treasurer for many years.
The influence of his mother's moral teachings was never lost, and at an early age he united with the Spring Creek Presbyterian Church, in which he long held the office of ruling elder. He never permitted his name to appear as a candidate for public office.
Despite the anxieties of his life, and his unremitting devotion to business, he lived past the allotted term of man. He was possessed of splendid physique, stood six feet high, straight as an arrow, and weighed over two hundred pounds. Eminently successful in all his undertakings, he was one of Centre county's representative self-made men. He began life with only a seventh interest in his father's farm, and courage, enterprise and judgment enabled him to gain a fortune. His endurance, foresight and business tact were tested to the utmost during the panic of 1857, when only the closest attention to his imperiled interests saved them from failure.
1 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 204.
2 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 232.
3 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 98.
4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 99.
5 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 227.
6 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 230.
7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 98, 509.
8 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 187, 204.
9 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 117.
10 G. O. Seilhamer, Esq, The Bard Family (Chambersburg, PA: Kittochtinny Press, 1908), Pg 324.
11 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 99, 250.
12 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 250.
13 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 99, 248.
14 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 97.
15
John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 321.
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